Editing Cairo (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Cairo,_Egypt_ESA349457.jpg|thumb|[[Greater Cairo]] seen from [[Sentinel-2A]]]]
[[File:Cairo-Nile-2020(2).jpg|thumb|right|The river [[Nile]] flows through Cairo, here contrasting ancient customs of daily life with the modern city of today.]]
[[File:Zamalek Arial.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view looking south, with the [[Zamalek]] and [[Gezira (Cairo)|Gezira]] districts on Gezira Island, surrounded by the Nile]]

Cairo is located in northern [[Egypt]], known as [[Lower Egypt]], {{cvt|165|km|mi|-1}} south of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and {{cvt|120|km|mi}} west of the [[Gulf of Suez]] and [[Suez Canal]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cairo to Suez |url=http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=cairo+to+suez |work=WolframAlpha |publisher=Wolfram Research |access-date=10 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811211550/http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=cairo+to+suez}}</ref> The city lies along the [[Nile|Nile River]], immediately south of the point where the river leaves its desert-bound valley and branches into the low-lying [[Nile Delta]] region. Although the Cairo metropolis extends away from the Nile in all directions, the city of Cairo resides only on the east bank of the river and two islands within it on a total area of {{cvt|453|km2|sqmi}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cairo.gov.eg/C17/C8/Cairo%20Maps/default.aspx |publisher=Cairo Governorate |access-date=10 September 2009 |title=Cairo Maps |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419130737/http://www.cairo.gov.eg/C17/C8/Cairo%20Maps/default.aspx}}</ref><ref name="citypop">{{cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/Egypt.html |publisher=City Population |last=Brinkhoff |first=Thomas |access-date=12 September 2009 |title=Egypt: Governorates & Cities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902164545/http://www.citypopulation.de/Egypt.html |archive-date=2 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Geologically, Cairo lies on [[alluvium]] and [[sand dune]]s which date from the [[quaternary]] period.<ref>El-Shazly E.M. (1977) ''The Ocean Basins and Margins, The Geology of the Egyptian Region'' (Plenum press, New York-London) "The Eastern Mediterranean". Retrieved 20 September 2020</ref><ref>El-Sohby M.A., Mazen S.O (1985) ''Proceedings, Eleventh International Conference on soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering (san Francisco), Geological Aspects in Cairo subsoil Development'', 4, pp 2401–2415. Retrieved 20 September 2020</ref>

Until the mid-19th century, when the river was tamed by dams, levees, and other controls, the Nile in the vicinity of Cairo was highly susceptible to changes in course and surface level. Over the years, the Nile gradually shifted westward, providing the site between the eastern edge of the river and the [[Mokattam]] highlands on which the city now stands. The land on which Cairo was established in 969 (present-day [[Islamic Cairo]]) was located underwater just over three hundred years earlier, when [[Fustat]] was first built.{{sfn|Collins|2002|p=125}}

Low periods of the Nile during the 11th century continued to add to the landscape of Cairo; a new island, known as ''Geziret al-Fil'', first appeared in 1174, but eventually became connected to the mainland. Today, the site of ''Geziret al-Fil'' is occupied by the [[Shubra]] district. The low periods created another island at the turn of the 14th century that now composes [[Zamalek]] and [[Gezira (Cairo)|Gezira]]. [[Land reclamation]] efforts by the [[Mamluk]]s and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] further contributed to expansion on the east bank of the river.{{sfn|Collins|2002|p=126}}

Because of the Nile's movement, the newer parts of the city—[[Garden City (Cairo)|Garden City]], [[Downtown Cairo]], and Zamalek—are located closest to the riverbank.<ref name="riverbank">{{cite web |url=http://geography.about.com/od/egyptmaps/a/cairo-geography.htm |title=Ten Facts about Cairo, Egypt |author=Amanda Briney |date=20 February 2011 |work=Geography of Cairo |publisher=About.com |access-date=14 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328101627/http://geography.about.com/od/egyptmaps/a/cairo-geography.htm |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The areas, which are home to most of Cairo's [[diplomatic mission|embassies]], are surrounded on the north, east, and south by the older parts of the city. [[Old Cairo]], located south of the centre, holds the remnants of [[Fustat]] and the heart of Egypt's [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic Christian]] community, [[Coptic Cairo]]. The [[Boulaq]] district, which lies in the northern part of the city, was born out of a major 16th-century port and is now a major industrial centre. The Citadel is located east of the city centre around [[Islamic Cairo]], which dates back to the Fatimid era and the foundation of Cairo. While western Cairo is dominated by wide boulevards, open spaces, and [[modern architecture]] of European influence, the eastern half, having grown haphazardly over the centuries, is dominated by small lanes, crowded tenements, and [[Islamic architecture]].

Northern and extreme eastern parts of Cairo, which include [[satellite town]]s, are among the most recent additions to the city, as they developed in the late-20th and early-21st centuries to accommodate the city's rapid growth. The western bank of the Nile is commonly included within the urban area of Cairo, but it composes the city of [[Giza]] and the [[Giza Governorate]]. Giza city has also undergone significant expansion over recent years, and today has a population of 2.7 million.<ref name="citypop"/> The Cairo Governorate was just north of the [[Helwan Governorate]] from 2008 when some Cairo's southern districts, including [[Maadi]] and [[New Cairo]], were split off and annexed into the new governorate,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2008/894/eg6.htm |publisher=al-Ahram Weekly |last=Leila |first=Reem |number=894 |date=24–30 April 2008 |access-date=12 September 2009 |title=Redrawing the Map |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810065313/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2008/894/eg6.htm |archive-date=10 August 2009}}</ref> to 2011 when the Helwan Governorate was reincorporated into the Cairo Governorate.

According to the [[World Health Organization]], the level of air pollution in Cairo is nearly 12 times higher than the recommended safety level.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://afrique.le360.ma/autres-pays/societe/2018/09/04/22762-egypte-pollution-forbes-fache-les-autorites-du-caire-22762 |title=Egypte. Pollution: Forbes fâche les autorités du Caire |date=4 September 2018 |access-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529043115/http://afrique.le360.ma/autres-pays/societe/2018/09/04/22762-egypte-pollution-forbes-fache-les-autorites-du-caire-22762 |archive-date=29 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{wide image|Panocairo1.jpg|800px|A panorama of the Nile in central Cairo showing the west side of [[Gezira Island]], located in the middle of the Nile, with the [[Cairo Tower]] in the middle, the [[6th October Bridge]] on the far left and [[El Galaa Bridge]] on the far right}}

===Climate===
[[File:Cairo weather observations by French savants.jpg|thumb|Cairo weather observations by French savants]]

In Cairo, and along the Nile River Valley, the climate is a [[hot desert climate]] (''BWh'' according to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system<ref>{{cite web |url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pics/kottek_et_al_2006.gif |title=World Map of Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification |publisher=Köppen-Geiger |access-date=22 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017125921/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pics/kottek_et_al_2006.gif |archive-date=17 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>).

Wind storms can be frequent, bringing [[Mineral dust|Saharan dust]] into the city, from March to May and the air often becomes uncomfortably dry. Winters are mild to warm, while summers are long and hot. High temperatures in winter range from {{cvt|14|to|22|°C|0}}, while night-time lows drop to below {{cvt|11|°C|0}}, often to {{cvt|5|°C|0}}. In summer, the highs often exceed {{cvt|31|°C|0}} but rarely surpass {{cvt|40|°C|0}}, and lows drop to about {{cvt|20|°C|0}}. Rainfall is sparse and only happens in the colder months, but sudden showers can cause severe flooding. The summer months have high humidity due to its proximity to the Mediterranean coast. Snowfall is extremely rare; a small amount of [[graupel]], widely believed to be [[snow]], fell on Cairo's easternmost suburbs on 13 December 2013, the first time Cairo's area received this kind of precipitation in many decades.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biblical snowstorm: Rare flakes in Cairo, Jerusalem paralyzed by over a foot |first=Jason |last=Samenow |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=13 December 2013 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/12/13/rare-snow-in-cairo-jerusalem-paralyzed-in-historic-snow/ |access-date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903233952/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/12/13/rare-snow-in-cairo-jerusalem-paralyzed-in-historic-snow/ |archive-date=3 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Dew points in the hottest months range from {{cvt|13.9|°C|0}} in June to {{cvt|18.3|°C|0}} in August.<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/BH/14654.TXT |title=Sarajevo Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=25 August 2016 }}{{dead link|date=June 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

{{Cairo weatherbox}}

=== Metropolitan area and districts ===
{{See also|Greater Cairo|Cairo Governorate}}

[[File:Cairo city administrative boundary and districts En.jpg|thumb|Cairo city administrative boundary and districts in English]]

The city of Cairo forms part of [[Greater Cairo]], the largest metropolitan area in Africa.<ref>R.L. Forstall, R.P. Greene, and J.B. Pick, [http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/cityfutures/papers/webpapers/cityfuturespapers/session3_4/3_4whicharethe.pdf "Which are the largest? Why published populations for major world urban areas vary so greatly"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531212605/http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/cityfutures/papers/webpapers/cityfuturespapers/session3_4/3_4whicharethe.pdf|date=31 May 2010}}, City Futures Conference, (University of Illinois at Chicago, July 2004) – Table 5 (p.34)</ref> While it has no administrative body, the Ministry of Planning considers it as an [[Economic Regions of Egypt|economic region]] consisting of [[Cairo Governorate]], [[Giza Governorate]], and [[Qalyubia Governorate]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The strategic urban development master plan study for a sustainable development of the Greater Cairo region in the Arab Republic of Egypt : final report ; Vol. 2. -Main report : strategic urban develo pment master plan |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/618/618/618_405_11893427.html |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=openjicareport.jica.go.jp |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326034243/https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/618/618/618_405_11893427.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As a contiguous metropolitan area, various studies have considered Greater Cairo be composed of the administrative cities that are Cairo, [[Giza]] and [[Shubra El Kheima|Shubra al-Kheima]], in addition to the [[Satellite city|satellite cities]]/[[New Towns|new towns]] surrounding them.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sims |first=David |date=2011 |title=Understanding Cairo: The Logic of a City Out of Control |chapter=A History of Modern Cairo: Three Cities in One |url=https://academic.oup.com/cairo-scholarship-online/book/23147/chapter-abstract/184014364?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=academic.oup.com |publisher=American University in Cairo Press |doi=10.5743/cairo/9789774164040.003.0004 |isbn=978-977-416-404-0 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222015714/https://academic.oup.com/cairo-scholarship-online/book/23147/chapter-abstract/184014364?redirectedFrom=fulltext |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cairo is a city-state where the governor is also the head of the city. Cairo City itself differs from other Egyptian cities in that it has an extra [[Local Government in Egypt|administrative division]] between the city and district levels, and that is areas, which are headed by deputy governors. Cairo consists of 4 areas ''(manatiq, singl. mantiqa)'' divided into 38 districts ''(ahya', singl. hayy)'' and 46 qisms (police wards, 1-2 per district):<ref>{{Cite web |title=Areas |url=http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Regions.aspx?SubmID=141 |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=Cairo Governorate |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207130230/http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Regions.aspx?SubmID=141 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The '''Northern Area''' is divided into 8 Districts:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Area |url=http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Region.aspx?ReID=14 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.cairo.gov.eg |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326034248/http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Region.aspx?ReID=14 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Shubra]]
* Al-Zawiya al-Hamra
* [[El Qobbah|Hadayek al-Qubba]]
* [[Rod El Farag|Rod al-Farg]]
* Al-Sharabia
* [[El Sahel|Al-Sahel]]
* [[Zeitoun, Cairo|Al-Zeitoun]]
* Al-Amiriyya

[[File:Map of Northern Area, Cairo (En).jpg|thumb|Map of Northern Area, Cairo (En)]]

The '''Eastern Area''' divided into 9 Districts and three new cities:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eastern Area |url=http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Region.aspx?ReID=12 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.cairo.gov.eg |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326034256/http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Region.aspx?ReID=12 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Misr al-Gadidah and Al-Nozha ([[Heliopolis, Cairo|Heliopolis]])
* [[Nasr City]] East and [[Nasr City]] West
* Al-Salam 1 (Awwal) and al-Salam 2 (Than)
* [[Ain Shams]]
* [[El Matareya, Cairo|Al-Matariya]]
* [[El Marg|Al-Marg]]
* [[El Shorouk|Shorouk]] (Under jurisdiction of [[New Urban Communities Authority|NUCA]])
* [[Badr, Egypt|Badr]] (Under jurisdiction of [[New Urban Communities Authority|NUCA]])
* [[New Cairo|Al-Qahira al-Gadida]] (New Cairo, three qisms, under jurisdiction of [[New Urban Communities Authority|NUCA]])

[[File:Map of Eastern Area, Cairo (En).jpg|thumb|Cairo Eastern Area map]]
The '''Western Area''' divided into 9 Districts:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Area |url=http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Region.aspx?ReID=13 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.cairo.gov.eg |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326034256/http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Region.aspx?ReID=13 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Manshiyat Naser|Manshiyat Nasser]]
* [[Al Waily|Al-Wayli]] (Incl. qism [[Daher, Egypt|al-Daher]])
* Wasat al-Qahira (Central Cairo, incl. [[Al-Darb al-Ahmar]], [[Al-Mu'izz Street|al-Gamaliyya]] qisms)
* [[Boulaq|Bulaq]]
* Gharb al-Qahira (West Cairo, incl. [[Zamalek]] qism, Qasr al-Nil qism incl. [[Garden City, Cairo|Garden City]] and part of [[Downtown Cairo|Down Town]])
* [[Abdeen Palace|Abdeen]]
* [[Al Azbakiya|Al-Azbakiya]]
* Al-Muski
* Bab al-Sha'aria

[[File:Map of Western Area, Cairo (En).jpg|thumb|Cairo Western Area map]]
The '''Southern Area''' divided into 12 Districts:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern Area |url=http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Region.aspx?ReID=11 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.cairo.gov.eg |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326034303/http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Pages/Region.aspx?ReID=11 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Masr El-Qadima (Old Cairo, including [[Roda Island|Al-Manial]])
* [[Al-Khalifa District|Al-Khalifa]]
* [[Mokattam|Al-Moqattam]]
* Al-Basatin
* [[Dar El Salam|Dar al-Salam]]
* [[Sayyidah Zainab District]]
* [[El Tebbin]]
* [[Helwan]]
* [[El Masara|Al-Ma'sara]]
* [[Maadi|Al-Maadi]]
* [[Tura, Egypt|Tora]]
* [[15th of May (city)|15th of May]] (Under jurisdiction of [[New Urban Communities Authority|NUCA]])

[[File:Map of Southern Area, Cairo (En).jpg|thumb|Cairo Southern Area map]]

==== Satellite cities ====
{{see also|Greater Cairo}}

Since 1977 a number of [[Planned community|new towns]] have been planned and built by the [[New Urban Communities Authority]] (NUCA) in the [[Eastern Desert]] around Cairo, ostensibly  to accommodate additional population growth and development of the city and stem the development of self-built informal areas, especially over agricultural land. As of 2022 four new towns have been built and have residential populations: [[15th of May (city)|15th of May City]], [[Badr City]], [[El Shorouk City|Shorouk City]], and [[New Cairo]]. In addition, two more are under construction: the [[New Administrative Capital]].<ref name="Ali-2020a"/><ref name="UNECA-2017a">{{Cite book |last=United Nations Economic Commission for Africa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cTHLDwAAQBAJ&dq=cairo+first+generation+cities&pg=PA150 |title=Economic Report on Africa 2017: Urbanization and Industrialization for Africa's Transformation |publisher=United Nations |year=2017 |isbn=978-92-1-060392-8 |pages=150 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cambanis |first=Thanassis |date=24 August 2010 |title=To Catch Cairo Overflow, 2 Megacities Rise in Sand |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/world/africa/25egypt.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311041220/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/world/africa/25egypt.html |archive-date=11 March 2017}}</ref> And Capital Gardens, where land was allocated in 2021, and which will house most of the civil servants employed in the new capital.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Capital Gardens |url=http://www.newcities.gov.eg/know_cities/Capital_Gardens/default.aspx |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=New Urban Communities Authority |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230205031/http://www.newcities.gov.eg/know_cities/Capital_Gardens/default.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Planned new capital ====
{{main|New Administrative Capital}}

In March 2015, plans were announced for a [[Planned community|new city]] to be built east of Cairo, in an undeveloped area of the Cairo Governorate,<ref name="BBC: new capital2">{{cite news |date=13 March 2015 |title=Egypt unveils plans to build new capital east of Cairo |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-31874886 |url-status=live |access-date=14 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313202550/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-31874886 |archive-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> which would serve as the [[New Administrative Capital]] of Egypt.